Maintenance of the Alaska Geologic and Minerals Resource Databases

The objective of this project is to maintain the Alaska geologic map and Alaska Resource Data File (ARDF), updating it with newly developing information through revision of existing records or creation of new records as needed. The project is also a source to feed information into the national Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS).

Abstract

The objective of this project is to create a new Alaska geologic map reflecting the best available data. Additionally, the project will help to support the USGS contribution to the International Polar Year (IPY) 2008 Circumpolar Bedrock Geologic map. The last state geologic map for Alaska was created in the late 1970's, reflecting a fundamentally different paradigm of geology and handicapped by limited data. Since 1998, extensive new digital datasets of Alaskan geology have been created by the USGS National Surveys and Analysis projects and this project will work to enhance and integrate these datasets into a seamless database, within the limits of available data. The project also works to integrate our Alaskan data with other datasets covering parts of Canada, the Russian Federation, and the conterminous United States. Throughout the earth science community, there is a very high demand for geologic mapping and for a new, more current geologic map for Alaska. Mineral and energy resource issues drive much of the demand for a new Alaska geologic map and at the same time, the map and associated spatial and attribute data behind the map has tremendous potential use in solving regional environmental and natural resource problems. Fundamentally, geologic maps are the basis upon which earth science studies are done. From 1996 through 2007, the Alaska Resource Data File (ARDF) was constructed to provide information on Alaska metallic resource locations, prospects, and mines for use in resource and environmental assessments as well as to provide the public and other agencies with this much needed and desired information.

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Products

Title	Type
Alaska Resource Data File	Data
U-Pb zircon data for: Cretaceous plutonic rocks of western Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve	Data
Geochemical and 40Ar/39Ar Analytical Data of Rocks from Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve	Data
Alaska Resource Data File	Project Website
Geologic Map of Alaska	Project Website
Geologic map of Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of the Yukon-Koyukuk Basin, Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of the Yukon-Koyukuk basin Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of the Yukon Flats region of east-central Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of the Western Aleutian Islands, Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of the southern Brooks Range, Alaska	Publication
Bedrock geologic map of the Seward Peninsula	Publication
Geologic map of the Seward Peninsula region of Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of Southeast Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of the Prince William Sound region of Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of the northern Alaska Peninsula region of Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of the Lower Yukon region of Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of the Kuskokwim Bay region of Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of the Kodiak Island region	Publication
Geologic map of Central Alaska	Publication
Geologic map of the Alaska Peninsula	Publication
Geologic map of the Cook Inlet	Publication

Contacts

Wilson, Frederic H., 907-786-7448

Status: onGoing
Start Year: 2007
End Year:

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USGS Mission Area and Program

Energy and Minerals → Mineral Resources

Keywords

Solid Earth